ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – October 2, 2024 – Kairos Power, a prominent developer of advanced reactor technology, officially broke ground today on a new Salt Production Facility at its Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This facility is set to produce high-purity molten salt coolant for Kairos Power’s advanced reactors, beginning with the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Kairos Power leadership, elected officials, and key partners, marking a significant milestone in the company’s development efforts.

Kairos Power's fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor technology (KP-FHR) utilizes a chemically stable mixture of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride salts, known as “Flibe.” This unique coolant enables the reactor to operate at low pressure while enhancing radiological containment, thereby contributing to the inherent safety of the KP-FHR design.

The new Salt Production Facility will leverage insights gained from Kairos Power’s Molten Salt Purification Plant, which successfully produced 14 tons of unenriched Flibe for the non-nuclear Engineering Test Unit (ETU 1.0) demonstration last year. The facility will employ a proprietary chemical process to generate large quantities of high-purity Flibe enriched in Lithium-7, ensuring it meets the stringent specifications required for reactor use.

This facility signifies a major investment in Kairos Power's vertical integration strategy, enabling the optimization of processes and establishing the capability to scale up reactor-grade Flibe production for its commercial fleet. By internalizing the production of critical components, the company aims to reduce supply chain risks, accelerate deployment, and ensure cost and schedule certainty for its advanced reactor technology.

Kairos Power anticipates creating 20 to 30 full-time, high-paying jobs to support the construction and operation of the Salt Production Facility. TIC-The Industrial Company, a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, has been contracted as the general contractor for the project.

The Salt Production Facility is one of three initiatives receiving support from the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico through economic incentives approved in September. Additional funding from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program will supplement Kairos Power’s significant private investment.

On the same day, the company held a dedication ceremony for its Manufacturing Development Campus, where guests toured the facilities and listened to remarks from local, state, and federal leaders celebrating the site’s role in piloting key manufacturing capabilities for the clean energy transition.

“Kairos Power is thrilled to continue expanding in New Mexico as we work to enable the world’s transition to clean energy,” stated Kairos Power CEO and co-founder Mike Laufer. “As global energy demand surges, we are driven by the imperative to move quickly in our mission. The pioneering capabilities and the incredible team we are celebrating today will make that possible.”

Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Ed Blandford remarked, “The facilities we are building in Albuquerque will play a pivotal role in deploying Kairos Power’s clean energy technology with robust safety at an affordable cost. With the addition of molten salt coolant production, Kairos Power’s Manufacturing Development Campus will soon have all the capabilities we need to deliver the Hermes demonstration reactor and establish a credible path to scale up production for the commercial fleet.”

Alan Kruizenga, Vice President of Salt, emphasized the facility's significance, saying, “This Salt Production Facility is not only a first for Kairos Power, but for the U.S. nuclear industry. This innovative facility establishes domestic production capacity for critical materials that will reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers. Building a domestic supply chain for Flibe is a significant hurdle to clear, but we believe it’s achievable. We are thrilled to start constructing this new facility that will allow us to control our destiny.”

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham added, “Advanced Energy is the most important economic development priority of my administration. Without clean energy, we simply won’t be able to meet our climate goals and ensure a safe future for all New Mexicans. Kairos Power is developing a next generation of safer nuclear reactor technology that will help us achieve our economic development and climate goals.”

Senator Martin Heinrich noted, “I’m proud to welcome this expansion of Kairos Power’s advanced manufacturing campus in Albuquerque. Kairos is a great example of a private company harnessing expertise from Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs to create technologies that will power our carbon-free energy future. I will keep working to support advanced energy technologies and manufacturing in New Mexico.”

Mayor Tim Keller reflected on the significance of the project, stating, “For decades we dreamed of Albuquerque being at the center of the renewable economy; that dream is more and more becoming reality. We have the right workforce and the right location to be the home of clean energy manufacturing, and Kairos brings more good-paying jobs for Albuquerque families.”

Brian Smith, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Reactors, expressed his enthusiasm for Kairos Power’s progress, stating, “DOE is pleased with the company’s progress on its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program Risk Reduction project, and we look forward to seeing what Kairos accomplishes next.”

About Kairos Power

‍Kairos Power is a mission-driven nuclear technology, engineering, and manufacturing company focused on commercializing the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR). This clean energy solution aims to be deployed with robust safety and affordability, facilitating deep decarbonization. Founded in 2016, Kairos Power employs a rapid iterative development approach and vertical integration strategy to bring advanced reactor technology to market. In 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a construction permit for Kairos Power’s Hermes demonstration reactor—the first non-water-cooled reactor approved for construction in the U.S. in over 50 years. Kairos Power’s mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy while improving quality of life and protecting the environment.